It is not uncommon for small business owners to find themselves in troubled waters – that is a difficult situation where there is disagreement that causes problems. You may find yourself in a difficult situation with a disgruntled client or your supplier has made a mistake that turns into a loss for you or you are having problems with an employee.

In a business setting, as unavoidable as it is, there is so much we can do to come out of disputes unscarred (and even sometimes with a new friend!). I believe that our reactions, preparation, and communication can change the course of our business, and lives, in a BIG way.

In business, there will always be unexpected things that happen. Despite best intentions, things can go wrong from time to time. Often these things catch you off guard, making the situation uncomfortable and unsettling.

When you entered into the partnership with your business partner (or partners), hopefully you took the time to have a partnership agreement drafted, and hopefully it was done with the level of skill and care required to reflect the agreement between the parties. If you did, then you will have a carefully prepared dispute resolution process to step through in the event of a dispute.

The legal system in Australia is just that, a legal system. Often this can be quite separate to the delivery of justice.